INSIDE INSIGHT Volume I Issue 1

Fall 2009

Inside Insight

Purpose

Inside Insight exists to provide an outlet to show-

case the God-given talents of The First Academy’s

authors, poets, essayists, photographers and artists.

This inaugural edition of Inside Insight is designed

to show a small sampling of the talents our TFA

family possesses and to encourage more students

to feel comfortable with sharing their work with

the rest of our family.

We encourage all forms of written expression as

well as the artistic talents which are able to be put

into print. Throughout each issue, there will be a

sampling of everything from poems and songs to

essays to short stories written both as assignments

and as simple expressions of themselves. As the

title suggests, the one goal is to reveal the amazing

and unique students who make up our school as

they really are.

It is the hope of the Inside Insight staff that more

students will be willing to participate and share a

glimpse into their own lives through this outlet.

i

“Inside Insight”

The sounds are heard,

A fog is lifted,

A heart begins to open to the world.

Exposure to the sun

Without fear of burning;

Arms open to the possibilities,

Without apprehension.

Slowly, the fists uncurl,

And the mask falls to the floor.

What others see and who we are

Become one.

The light breaks through the darkness,

The door opens to the soul.

Now all who are around see

Not just the surface but

Reality;

Inside Insight.

Inside Insight Staff

Kirk Hensley, Senior Editor

Tamara Allen, Junior Editor

Amanda Whitaker, Sophomore Editor

Mrs. Patton, Sponsor

ii

Poetry

“High School” “Restoring Blue” “Glorify”

Essay The Great Debate

Art Mrs. Patton Ted Hudgeons Caroline Tesch Mrs. Patton Shalisha Sheffield Lyndee Rose Lauren Salter Scott Simmons Casey O’Brien Jarrod Harrison Mrs. Patton Danny Rodriguez Austin Muehleman Jack Mixner

Madie Sunberg

Savannah Posgai

Catherine Cramer

An Anonymous

TFA Sophomore

Page 2

Page 3

Page 6

Page 9

Front Cover

Page 4

Page 4

Page 5

Page 7

Page 7

Page 7

Page 8

Page 8

Page 8

Page 9

Page 12

Page 12

Back Cover

1

Photography on pages 4, 7, 8, 12 and Back Cover

Courtesy of Tamara Allen

The First Academy Mission Statement

The First Academy is a Christ-centered, college-preparatory school

whose mission is to prepare children for life as Christian leaders

who choose character before career, wisdom beyond scholarship,

service before self, and participation as a way of life.

Table of Contents

“High School” By Madie Sunberg

My feet hit the ground,

I walk into the building.

I climb the stairs and

Immediately I am swarmed.

There are friends, drama,

Unfinished homework,

All to be accomplished before

The Bell…

Into our classes we go,

Whether it’s math, English or science.

30 minutes go by,

I look to the clock to see,

We have an hour left.

I sit there and try to avoid

The teacher looking over at

Me to answer a question.

I start to doze off,

When my eyes are forcefully

Opened again.

Finally, the bell rings.

I’m free!!

My legs move as fast

As they can.

I can’t wait to be out.

To home I go, to find I

Have to do this all again…

Tomorrow!

2

“Restoring Blue” By: Savannah Posgai

A broken heart beats differently,

Love blinded eyes just can’t see.

The light or truth that may lie all around

‘Cause love doesn’t always make a sound.

A crushed spirit doesn’t function right,

Can’t distinguish if it’s day or night.

They choose to hold on to the pain, and they know it’s true

‘Cause to move on means letting go of you.

But stagnant pool just lets the world pass by.

Its water clouds as more tear drops cry.

Cut off from the river that is life,

There’s no current to sweep away the strife.

And a heart that holds on to a person no longer there

Is simply floating in thin air,

And here’s a fact that they will miss,

They’re descending themselves into a black abyss.

Hope is available to those who, it, desire,

But some prefer to remain stuck in the filthy mire.

Maybe to self-pity they’ve become so accustomed

That hope is a foreign taste to them.

However, one day a hand will catch them in their fall,

Brush them off, remove their walls.

Love clears the fog and starts them anew,

Reopening their eyes to a new sky that’s blue…

3

4

Ted Hudgeons

Caroline Tesch

5

“Glorify” By: Catherine Cramer

Rolling hills of green dotted with violet petite petals,

The wind rushes up and around, trees whistle and dance,

A sweet aroma is produced smelling serene and blissful,

The sun yields warmth and dries up sadness.

The mountains are complete and content to glorify their Creator.

The sand is grainy yet soft, the vast dark water is powerful yet fertile.

The creatures jump and prance in their sea, exclaiming excitement.

The waves rush quickly, creating a loud roar but will always obey

and recede.

The ocean is complete and content to obey its Creator.

Darkness: The stars flicker their brilliant light.

The moon shines faithfully. A strike of lightning illuminates

The sky while reminding the Earth of its beauty

And detriment. Only moments later, a bang is

Relinquished from the heavens. That crack of

Thunder causes the earth to shudder.

The night sky is complete and content to glorify its Creator.

The calm mountains; the obedient oceans; the majestic sky.

The Earth is complete and content to glorify its

Creator.

6

7 Lauren Salter

Shalisha Sheffield

Lyndee Rose

8

Scott Simmons

Casey O’Brien

Jarrod Harrison

The Great Faith Debate By: An Anonymous TFA Sophomore

During The Great Faith Debate, the question “What

about science and reason?” was asked. Renowned atheist Chris-

topher Hitchens provided a simple response stating that science

and religion were not related. Internationally recognized apolo-

gist Dinesh D’Souza replied by using an illustration discussing

the inference of an author due to a character of a book. He used

Hamlet and William Shakespeare to demonstrate his point:

Shakespeare is not mentioned once in the play, yet someone did

create the characters. An intelligent mind went behind the plan-

ning and designing of the plot. A creator controlled the out-

come, sustained each individual, and knew before the characters

what would happen. There has not been a more accurate anal-

ogy to compare with the obvious reality that the Earth is indeed

a product of someone’s careful thought and planning.

“I suppose he’ll die soon. I’m expecting it, like you do

for a dog that’s seventeen. There’s no way to know how I’ll re-

act. He’ll have faced his own placid death and slipped without

a sound inside himself. Mostly, I

imagine I’ll crouch there at the door,

fall onto him, and cry hard into the

stench of his fur. I’ll wait for him to

wake up, but he won’t. I’ll bury him.

I’ll carry him outside, feeling his

warmth turn to cold as the horizon

frays and falls down in my backyard.

For now, though, he’s okay. I can see

him breathing. He just smells like

9

What have you just learned about Markus Zusak? You might

think Markus is the narrator, the young man preparing to grieve

for his elderly canine. Another assumption could suggest that

the dog himself is named Markus Zusak. However, the words

“Markus Zusak” refer entirely to the author of I Am the Messen-

ger, the book from which this excerpt was taken. Mr. Zusak

was not mentioned once in this story, nor was any reference

made to his very existence. At the same time, there is no ques-

tion that there is indeed a writer; someone who creates, sustains,

and oversees the characters and their lives.

In the same way, examining the earth, the galaxy, the

universe, without finding a Creator within the creation, you can

still deduct that a Creator does exist. The complexity, the plot,

the intelligence, and the intricacy of life as we know it points

directly to some sort of an author. God is real. He is alive. He

matters, whether or not you choose to recognize him.

Despite a belief that is gaining popularity, religion –

Christianity in particular – will not be the bane of modern soci-

ety. On the contrary, throughout history religion has held vari-

ous civilizations together in their times of need.

The success of the United States forming an independent

country is a perfect example. England was a world power,

seemingly untouchable. Their thirteen colonies in North Amer-

ica were dependent, appeared to be unstable, and not nearly as

organized as their mother country. After a series of mistreat-

ment, they began to rebel and revolt: from boycotting English

products to the Boston Tea Party. Against all odds, Americans

defeated a major nation in what looked like a losing battle. The

world was shocked, speechless, and in awe.

10

The leaders of the new nation, however, were unmoved, knowing

that, through the power of God, anything would be achievable.

Two of these leaders, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin,

are excellent examples of men whose faith was placed completely

in the one true God.

This same concept is illustrated in the Bible. In the seven-

teenth chapter of Exodus, verses eight through sixteen discuss the

Israelites’ defeat of Amalek. Moses stood at the top of a hill

where the entire battle could be seen. With him were Aaron, Hur,

and the rod of God. By simply lifting the rod, Moses trusted God

to dominate, and he demonstrated God’s power. However, the

moment the rod was lowered, Israel began to lose the battle. In an

instant, change could occur. Each moment was crucial. With the

help of Aaron and Hur, Moses kept the rod raised, and God’s cho-

sen people prevailed. These two examples display the sheer au-

thority that is gained when trust is placed in God.

Religion does indeed hold the keys to creating a better

world. With God’s power and omnipotence, all seemingly endless

struggles can and will cease. What is stopping you from believ-

ing, making the most important decision of your life? No excuse

is valid.

11

12

Danny Rodriguez

Austin Muehleman

Jack Mixner

God's Plan of Salvation Admit - "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Pray: Lord, I admit that I am a sinner

in need of a Savior.

Believe - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but

have everlasting life" (John3:16). Pray: Lord, I believe

that Jesus died and shed His blood for my sins. I believe this in my heart and not just my head.

Call - "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" Romans 10:13).

Pray: Lord, I call upon You to save me from my sins. I confess and repent of my sins. I know that Your Son, Jesus paid

my debt on the cross-a debt I could never pay despite all my good works-and I thankfully accept Your gift of eternal life

in Heaven that His death makes possible (Acts 2:38-39).